Manila Grey’s 2017 debut, No Saints Under Palm Shade, issued by Duetti, collects six tracks that navigate the intersection of Pinoy hip hop and R&B with a Canadian cloud rap sensibility. The duo, rooted in the Filipino diaspora, shapes a moody, urbane atmosphere across cuts like “Disco Eyes” and “Timezones.” The production leans towards hazy synths and laid-back rhythms, framing vocals that alternate between rapped verses and smooth crooning.Recorded and released in 2017, this record reflects a particular moment in the Canadian underground where global influences coalesce. Manila Grey’s melding of genre elements and cultural perspective signals a subtle but distinct chapter in the lineage of diasporic hip hop. The six-track set remains a compact artifact for those tracking the nuances of Pinoy-inflected urban music beyond the Philippines.

Manila Grey’s 2017 debut, No Saints Under Palm Shade, issued by Duetti, collects six tracks that navigate the intersection of Pinoy hip hop and R&B with a Canadian cloud rap sensibility. The duo, rooted in the Filipino diaspora, shapes a moody, urbane atmosphere across cuts like “Disco Eyes” and “Timezones.” The production leans towards hazy synths and laid-back rhythms, framing vocals that alternate between rapped verses and smooth crooning.Recorded and released in 2017, this record reflects a particular moment in the Canadian underground where global influences coalesce. Manila Grey’s melding of genre elements and cultural perspective signals a subtle but distinct chapter in the lineage of diasporic hip hop. The six-track set remains a compact artifact for those tracking the nuances of Pinoy-inflected urban music beyond the Philippines.